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There have been no serious side effects reported so far<ref name="ClNelson"/>. The skin being treated goes red, with some bruising and numbness. I suspect that the bruising may be because the CoolSculpting device sucks<ref name="CsSuction"/><ref name="CryroNerves"/> the fat against the cooling device. These problems normally resolve within a week. Studies have shown no changes in blood lipid levels or liver function<ref name="CyroMeta"/>. The numbness is not associated with nerve damage<ref name="CryroNerves"/>. There are reports of a small number of patients having a prolonged (weeks), painful response to CoolScuplting<ref name="CSIndividuality"/>.
=Weight Loss or Spot Reduction?=
CoolSculpting reduces the fat thickness in the limited area that is treated rather than producing overall weight loss[[Weight Loss]]<ref name="ClNelson"/>. CoolSculpting does not seem to be effective in obese people, though it may simply be harder to observe the effects<ref name="ClNelson"/>. It's worth noting that CoolSculpting reduces the fat thickness in people who have a stable weight; in other words, you don't need to be on a diet for it to work.
=How long does it take to work?=
The effects of CoolSculpting should start within a few weeks, but the full effect may take 3-4 months<ref name="CsPig"/>. Tests indicate that the changes are noticeable after 2-7 weeks (average 4 weeks)<ref name="CryroChin"/>.
* '''Is this a replacement for diet and exercise?''' Absolutely not. This approach will reduce the level of fat in a given area rather than producing an overall reduction in body fat.
* '''Do you apply the ice directly or use a barrier such as a cloth?''' I normally apply the bag of ice directly to the skin. Sometimes I'll use a thin layer such as a tee shirt for a few minutes until the skin adjusts and then remove the layer. This prevents the sudden drop in temperature from making me squeal.
* '''Is DIY CoolSculpting the same as drinking ice water?''' No, it's quite different. This approach triggers local removal of fat rather than changing the overall metabolism. (Drinking a gallon of ice water will only use about 70 Calories, so that is not a great solution to weight loss[[Weight Loss]].)
* '''Is DIY CoolSculpting like applying an ice pack as described in The Four Hour Body? '''No, the four hour body uses ice to chill the body overall rather than reduce the fat in a local area.
* '''What happens to the fat that is lost?''' The absolute level of fat lost in this technique is not huge, so the calories made available from the fat is probably inconsequential.
* '''Is there any corresponding skin tightening?''' In my experiment, there was not enough fat loss to make a difference to skin tension. Overall, CoolSculpting and DIY CoolSculpting are unlikely to produce the dramatic overall fat loss that would lead to sagging skin.
* '''Is 'DIY CoolSculpting' the same as the real thing?''' No, the DIY approach of applying ice is different to CoolSculpting, which uses a single session applied for a shorter period.
* '''Does 'DIY CoolSculpting' work the same way as Commercial CoolSculpting?''' It's hard to know for sure, but I believe the underlying mechanism is the same. DIY CoolSculpting could be burning more calories to keep the body warm, but that would produce an overall weight loss[[Weight Loss]], not a spot reduction. Another mechanism, such as increased blood flow, could be behind the spot reduction, but that does not seem likely. Commercial CoolSculpting uses colder temperatures than DIY CoolSculpting, so the DIY version may not be as effective <ref name="CryoNovel"/>. However, the DIY can be applied far more frequently than the commercial approach.
=References=
